By Ed Farrell
Herald Assistant Sports Editor
Whether or not David Saluga plays professional baseball some day is conjecture at this juncture; however he conceivably could design the stadiums in which we watch games.
The Hickory High senior recently announced he will matriculate at Youngstown State University to continue his education and play baseball for the Penguins of coach Rich Pasquale.
It’s fortuitous Saluga already has mastered multi-tasking. He’s intending to major in construction engineering development at YSU, which is why he chose it over Mercyhurst, Mount Union, Washington & Jefferson and Marietta.
Saluga said he had a heart-to-heart talk with Hickory head coach Gary Hinkson, who asked him a trio of rhetorical questions regarding the choice of where to further his education: “Do they have your major? Do you feel that you connect with the baseball coaches? Do you feel it’s a good fit; are you comfortable on campus?”
Saluga was able to answer affirmatively, relating, “I think it’s a good fit,” regarding his decision on YSU.
At Hickory Saluga is a member of the school’s National Honor Society chapter (3.8 grade-point-average through his junior year), and as part of a dual enrollment program in cooperation with Penn State-Shenango Valley, is enrolled in 7 credits while taking calculus and criminology courses (in addition to English and history at Hickory). He is set to earn 6 more credits in next spring when he will help lead headmaster Hinkson’s Hornets.
In addition, he was included in Hickory’s High Honor Roll (97 percent or greater GPA each quarter through each of his first 3 years), and he was honored as a Hickory “Tri-Athlete” (85-plus percent GPA, plus participation in 3 sports) during his first 2 years. Among his extracurricular activities Saluga is a member of the math, physics, art and Spanish clubs, and Students for Charity and Students Against Drunk Driving. He also helped coached a Hermitage-based 9- and 10-year-old fall baseball team. Athletically, he was a 2-time District 10 Golf Championships qualifier (3-year letterman), and 2-time 2nd-Team All-Region selection. He also played basketball as a freshman and sophomore.
“I manage my time better when I have more to do; I don’t waste time,” Saluga simply said.
As a lefthanded-hitting outfielder last spring, Saluga slugged the ball at a .455 clip for the District 10 Class AA runners-up, hammered a half-dozen home runs, and drove in 15 runs. Saluga swiped 6 sacks en route to District 10 All-Region honors.
Saluga assessed his strengths and weaknesses thusly: Good power to the right side of the field ... pretty good (foot)speed ... pretty good (throwing) arm strength ... going the oppposite way (field) is a weakness, and maybe getting better mentally, in preparing (to play).”
Saluga had high praise for his coaches at Hickory, particularly Hinkson: “He definitely knows baseball, has a great knowledge, not only about how you play, but how you present yourself on the field. He makes sure his players are sportsmanlike, and doesn’t deal with bad attitudes. He teaches, not only baseball, but how to conduct yourself on the field. That’s how all the (Hickory) coaches teach you.”
Saluga served his diamond apprenticeship as a member of Hermitage Little League’s Major Division (12-year-olds) Pennsylvania runners-up in 2003, then he played 6 summers in the prestigious Youngstown Class B circuit for Wharmby Sports.
Saluga cited his parents Cyndy and Steve, his brother Michael, as well as Hinkson and one of his Little League coaches, Jim Wilds (Wilds’ son Jordan was one of his Saluga’s childhood friends and teammates), for his development. He also expressed gratitude to his grandparents, Steve and Evelyn Saluga, aunt Sheila Saluga, Peg Kavulla, as well as his girlfriend Elise Baldarelli.
